A diverse panel -- the Circle the Wagon Coalition -- bring multiple perspectives to the political issues of the day, with a focus on delivering viable solutions.
Josh, Diane, and Joe take on a wide range of topics, from local to international politics and everything in between.
19 Mar 2026
E4 2026: Everything is Political
Joel is back!
The gang is reunited, with Joel back from his adventures across the seven seas (or at least one of them).
Joel, Josh, Diane "Momma D," and Joe take a circuitous journey around numerous topics, all with political underpinnings. They discuss the Oscars (Joe believes Sinners was robbed), how fiction helps readers gain empathy, healthy male (as opposed to "macho," "alpha male") representation in literature, racism and its impact on society, cultural family dynamics, and the power of cultural representation in media.
In what may be the final episode of Circle the Wagons (https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZyClQ0mgO8CIlP6i9nvTN?si=d7704729c5004fdc) recorded at Patchouli Joe's Books & Indulgences, this episode gives you some insight into just how close this group has grown since the start of this project.
25 Feb 2026
E3 2026: Political Potpouri
Josh, Diane, and Joe discuss local (Texas) politics, early/primary voting, the State of the Union address, Joe's campaign, and more.
Vote in our poll: Crockett or Talarico?
23 Jan 2026
E2 2026: Election Front Lines
With Joel out to sea, Charlie awash in a sea of homework, and Jon lost in sea of diapers, Josh, Mama D, and Joe take on the local election scene in north Texas.
In a spicy, sometimes contentious discussion, the trio calls out the mistakes of the Democratic party, acknowledges the effectiveness of the GOP election machine, and try to find the best path forward for moving the nation forward.
Josh is a Denton County Democratic Precinct Chair (Precinct 3134, District 63) and Joe is the Democratic candidate for Texas State House District 106. Both are on the front lines, on different flanks, of the local election world.
Aside from breaking down the process and structures of the local election systems, the crew discusses the importance of safety during winter storms, as well as the most effective way of clearing armadillos from the road.
For the record, armadillos are not indigenous to Vermont. Just like ice and snow are not indigenous to Texas.
9 Jan 2026
E1 2026: Mayhem to Start 2026
Charlie, Joel, Josh, Mama D, and Joe kick off 2026 by taking a deep dive --- including a few side trips and tin-foil hat moments --- on Venezuela, the game of global Risk that seems to be going on, and the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.
Joe shouts out Haley and the crew at Hive Bakery and a group of Moose shalle henceforth be known as a "flock of Meesen," thanks to Joel.
19 Dec 2025
E13 2025: What's Wrong with the System?
Charlie, Joel, Josh, Mama D, and Joe start with the economy, wander through the 12/17/2025 POTUS address/campaign rally speech, before deep diving into the frustrations facing all those involved in the political process...except for the ultra-wealthy, that is.
12 Dec 2025
E12 2025: Guess Who's Running for Office?
With Joel away, Diane moderates the episode as the group goes around the horn, deep-diving issues of the day. There's talk of Venezuela, elections, Christian Nationalism (of course), and more.
Diane announces that Joe is running for Texas House of Representatives, District 106!
You can help (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joemayesfortexas)!
5 Dec 2025
E11 2025: US vs Venezuela - Why?
The Circle the Wagons Coalition -- Josh, Joel, Diane (aka Momma D), and Joe break down the happenings off the coast of Venezuela. An in-depth roundtable discussion wanders from the attacks on the drug runner/fishermen to local politics and the economic effects being felt locally.
10 Nov 2025
E10 2025: The Economy Part II
Following the somewhat chaotic episode 9, Joel, Josh, Charlie, Mama D, and Smokey Joe are joined by economist and mathematician Jon Mayes to frame the discussion of the economy.
They tackle the US economy within the context of the global economy, the costs/benefits of college, Mike Duncan's REVOLUTIONS podcast, and more really nerdy economy topics.
Quotes from Matthew McConaughey, Nicholas Cage, Napoleon Dynamite, Hyman Roth, and Rick's assessment of Napoleon Dynamite kick things off.
31 Oct 2025
E9 2025: The Chaos Economy
Charlie, Diane, Joel, and Joe participate in a passionate, emotionally-charged discussion of the impact of the economy on individual lives. The first of a 4-6 part series to discuss and better understand the economy, what drives it, what matters (and what doesn't), and how to navigate life while finding a way to improve an increasingly unbalanced economic system.
24 Oct 2025
E8 2025: Bread and Circuses
Joel introduces the topic of bread and circuses. The concept of bread and circuses introduces the idea of superficial appeasement. Diane noted that the name of the sovereign democratic constitutional republic in HUNGER GAMES was Panem, the Latin word for "bread," a not too subtle callout by author Suzanne Collins.
Listen as the Circle the Wagons Coalition calls out the manifestation of this ancient Roman concept in today's society.
17 Oct 2025
E7 2025: Palantir - Big, BIG Brother is Watching
Charlie and the crew talk Palantir, the tech company that is the center of numerous conspiracy theories -- and government contracts. Listen as the group breaks down Palantir, what some of the concerns are, and why you should care.
10 Oct 2025
E6 2025: Institutional Capture
The Circle the Wagons Coalition discuss Institutional Capture: what it is, where it's impacting the US today, and what we can do about it.
3 Oct 2025
E5 2025: General/Flag Officers at Quantico
Joe brings the question of how the General/Flag officers might respond to the Quantico confab this week. The group takes a deep dive into both military and civilian perspectives on the messages from the Secretary of Defense and POTUS.
26 Sept 2025
E4 2025: Christian Nationalism
Diane chairs a spirited discussion of what is -- and isn't -- Christian Nationalism with Joel, Charlie, and Joe (we missed you, Josh!). We chat about Nationalism, Christian Nationalism, White Christian Nationalism, and what our nation's founders *really* meant.
19 Sept 2025
E3 2025: Dog Whistles
Josh, Joel, Diane, Charlie Forester, and Joe discuss coded language and dog whistles.
12 Sept 2025
E2 2025: Solutions for Tomorrow
Josh, Joel, Diane, and Joe discuss what rebuilding the US after the current administration might look like, in five foundational categories: the Constitution, Social/Health Services, the Military, Gov’t Infrastructure/Agency & Institutions, and Global Standing. They acknowledge 9/11/2001 and the murder of Charlie Kirk.
4 Sept 2025
E1 2025: Welcome to "Circle the Wagons"
Meet Josh, Joel, Diane, and Joe of the Circle the Wagons Coalition. In this episode, we discuss how we arrived here and the intersection of religion and politics.
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